😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,677 in Mexico City versus $466 in Antsirabe.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,608 in Mexico City versus $715 in Antsirabe.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,540 in Mexico City versus $965 in Antsirabe.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 260% more expensive than in Antsirabe, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 22% above, Antsirabe is 66% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Antsirabe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.14MX$206
$1.14MGA 4,940
964.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$914
$16.12MGA 69.8K
234.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.09MX$188
$5.97MGA 25.9K
85.76%
Cappuccino
$4.10MX$69.5
$1.36MGA 5,899
201.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$28.53
$0.79MGA 3,408
112.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39MX$23.55
$0.46MGA 1,997
202.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.33MX$56.5
$1.05MGA 4,555
217.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88MX$99.7
$2.27MGA 9,847
159.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Antsirabe
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.85MX$31.41
$0.97MGA 4,203
90.72%
White Bread(500g)
$3.17MX$53.8
$1.03MGA 4,457
207.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.07MX$35.13
$0.74MGA 3,194
179.73%
Eggs
$2.93MX$49.67
$2.14MGA 9,285
36.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.59MX$214
$8.85MGA 38.3K
42.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.11MX$172
$4.50MGA 19.5K
124.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09MX$273
$4.87MGA 21.1K
230.39%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39MX$57.5
$1.13MGA 4,893
200.00%
Banana(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.26
$0.57MGA 2,450
264.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12MX$35.97
$1.03MGA 4,465
105.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.41MX$40.95
$0.84MGA 3,654
186.90%
Potato(1kg)
$2.13MX$36.11
$0.57MGA 2,473
273.68%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.02
$0.96MGA 4,180
109.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55MX$26.21
$0.35MGA 1,523
342.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.36MX$23.15
$0.45MGA 1,947
202.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.77MX$97.8
$1.59MGA 6,895
262.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.74MX$301
$5.10MGA 22.1K
247.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07MX$35.11
$1.02MGA 4,399
102.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$78.3
$1.90MGA 8,250
142.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Antsirabe
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.37MX$6.21
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.18MX$359
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.05MX$34.84
$3.43MGA 14.9K
-40.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58MX$9.79
$2.13MGA 9,210
-72.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.07MX$103
$4.71MGA 20.4K
28.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.34
$1.17MGA 5,052
32.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9KMX$388.1K
$12.1KMGA 52.5M
88.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2KMX$462.0K
$26.0KMGA 112.7M
4.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Antsirabe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$67.4MX$1,144
$76.5MGA 331.3K
-11.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.62MX$520
$17.50MGA 75.8K
74.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.24MX$632
$57.7MGA 250.0K
-35.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Antsirabe
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5MX$1,043
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.12MX$460
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.11MX$121
$5.79MGA 25.1K
22.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Antsirabe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$456MX$7,739
$25.69MGA 111.3K
1675.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.7KMX$232.3K
$15.2KMGA 65.9M
-9.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Antsirabe
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.2MX$1,259
$29.96MGA 129.8K
147.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.0MX$967
$28.66MGA 124.2K
98.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115MX$1,958
$79.7MGA 345.3K
44.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122MX$2,061
$71.0MGA 307.5K
71.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Antsirabe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,148MX$19.5K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$709MX$12.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,577MX$43.7K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,295MX$22.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,005MX$67.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,130MX$36.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Antsirabe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,082MX$18.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
15.75
-28.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026
Last update for Antsirabe: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $16.00 in Antsirabe for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $142 per month, with Antsirabe cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Mexico City vs Antsirabe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Antsirabe cheaper than Mexico City?
Antsirabe is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 260% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,515 in Mexico City and $699 in Antsirabe to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do food prices compare in Mexico City and in Antsirabe?
Supermarket bills run roughly 143% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Mexico City and in Antsirabe?
All in, you'll spend $1,677 per month in Mexico City versus $466 in Antsirabe – a 260% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mexico City or in Antsirabe?
At $466 in Antsirabe versus $1,677 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Antsirabe but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Antsirabe the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mexico City or Antsirabe more family-friendly?
For families, Antsirabe is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mexico City, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Mexico City or Antsirabe?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Antsirabe are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Antsirabe gentler on the wallet – expenses run 260% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared